Thailand Live Tuesday 12 May 2015

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Thailand offers help to restore shattered ancient temples in Nepal



BANGKOK, 12 May 2015 (NNT) – Officials from the Ministry of Culture, the Fine Arts Department and the Department of Religious Affairs as well as national historians and architects are integrating their efforts to help restore World Heritage sites in Nepal ruined by the recent earthquake.

Minister of Culture Weera Rotephotchanarat said that on 25 May, UNESCO will send officials to conduct surveys to evaluate damages on the World Heritage sites. The Culture Ministry has sent UNESCO a letter offering Thai support in the restoration mission. It has also informed the Embassy of Nepal in Bangkok about Thailand’s readiness to deliver the support.

Weera added that if UNESCO and the Nepalese Embassy agree to the Thai offer, the ministry will ask for the greenlight from the cabinet to proceed with its project immediately. However, the Nepalese government is currently busy with assistance to survivors and has not so far allowed any group to undertake the restoration of its archaeological remains.

The Minister added that the Fine Arts Department is working with historians to study the architectural structure of various World Heritage sites in order to define maintenance approaches as well as a safety system to protect the remains from future earthquakes.

As for the Thai Buddhist temples such as Muni Vihara located in Bhaktapur, the minister said they received little damage. On the contrary, Ananda Kuti Vihar, a Theravada Buddhist temple of Nepal, was heavily destroyed in the quake.


-- NNT 2015-05-12

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Govt to continue arranging rice trade talks with foreign nations

BANGKOK, 12 May 2015 (NNT) – Government Spokesperson Yongyuth Mayalarp has affirmed that Thai rice is still competitive in the world market despite the rising price while saying the government will seek more chances to forge rice trade agreements with foreign partners.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824510-thai-govt-to-continue-arranging-rice-trade-talks-with-foreign-nations/

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Two Pattaya Police Volunteers wanted for theft and abduction

PATTAYA: -- Police are currently searching for two Police Volunteers, who are suspected of theft and abduction in Soi Khopia, South Pattaya in the early hours of Monday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824511-two-pattaya-police-volunteers-wanted-for-theft-and-abduction/

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Three Injured in Shooting at Central Pattaya Market



PATTAYA: -- The owner of a Liquor Store, his girlfriend and a customer were injured following a shooting.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824512-three-injured-in-shooting-at-central-pattaya-market/

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Fatal crash prompts road cleaning near Central Pattaya Underpass Construction Site



PATTAYA: -- On Monday a team of 10 street cleaners, employed by the construction company involved in the Central Pattaya Underpass project, removed sand from the road, close to where a 36 year old man was killed in a road crash on Sunday Night.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824513-fatal-crash-prompts-road-cleaning-near-central-pattaya-underpass-construction-site/

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Thai-Chinese double-track railways project will turn Thailand to AEC logistic hub

AYUTTHAYA, 12 May 2015 (NNT) - A public hearing on the Thai-Chinese project to build double-track railways was held on Monday in Ayutthaya Province to gather public opinions and their suggestions on the project.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824514-thai-chinese-double-track-railways-project-will-turn-thailand-to-aec-logistic-hub/

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HUMAN TRAFFICKING
'Trafficking bag man' named
The Nation



Police identify alleged 'money man' behind Rohingya labour trafficking

BANGKOK: -- POLICE yesterday obtained an arrest warrant for a man they said was a key finanicer behind the entire Rohingya trafficking racket in the South.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824515-thai-police-identify-alleged-money-man-behind-rohingya-labour-trafficking/

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RAILWAY
Japan keen on three rail projects

Dawei also on Tokyo's agenda, top aide says

BANGKOK: -- JAPAN YESTERDAY signalled its intention to help develop multibillion-baht high-speed railway routes in Thailand while also investing in the Dawei port and industrial-estate projects in Myanmar.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824516-japan-keen-on-three-rail-projects-in-thailand/

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MUSEUM CONTROVERSY
Thousands fight plan to close Nakhon Pathom museum
Aritach Pornasavayothin
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THOUSANDS gathered in Nakhon Pathom province yesterday to oppose plans to close down the only national museum in their hometown. Despite the sweltering heat, the crowd in front of the Nakhon Pathom Administra-tive Organisation continued to grow once their rally kicked off at 3pm.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824517-thousands-fight-plan-to-close-nakhon-pathom-museum/

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THAI-CHINESE TIES
China may buy Thai rubber at price above market value
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND hopes to finalise an agreement with China soon for the purchase of 200,000 tonnes of rubber at above-market prices to encourage price rises in the future and improve the incomes of Thai farmers.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824518-china-may-buy-thai-rubber-at-price-above-market-value/

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POLITICS
Parties told not to hold forums
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- POLITICAL parties and politicians should not be holding their own forums to criticise the charter draft, Deputy Defence Minister Udomdej Sitabutr warned yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824519-thai-politics-parties-told-not-to-hold-forums/

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POLITICS
Peace TV starts broadcasting via YouTube
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK,
WATCHIRANONT THONGTEP
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- PEACE TV began broadcasting on YouTube yesterday after the red-shirt satellite-TV station had its broadcast licence revoked recently by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824520-peace-tv-starts-broadcasting-via-youtube/

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Military sites proposed for waste-to-energy power plants
WATCHARAPONG THONGRUNG
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE DEFENCE MINISTRY has proposed that power plants fuelled by hazardous waste be set up in military areas to prevent any possibility of environmental problems and opposition from the public, according to an Energy Ministry source.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824521-thai-military-sites-proposed-for-waste-to-energy-power-plants/

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STREETWISE
Is Thailand REALLY ready for the AEC?

BANGKOK: -- Former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij should be commended for his devotion. As chairman of the Democrat Party's policy unit, he has proved that his eyes and ears are open to every nuance of national policy.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824522-is-thailand-really-ready-for-the-aec/

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Cambodian Imports Double During the First Quarter

Imports from Cambodia nearly doubled for the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period last year. Cambodia reached $261 million in exports as part of an attempt to improve the economic ties between the two countries.

Data from the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh shows that exports from Thailand was up 96% at the end of March. This is up from $134 million during the same period in 2014.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824504-cambodian-imports-double-during-the-first-quarter/

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Village and Tambon Chiefs Petition Against Draft Charter

Village and tambon chiefs all across Thailand protested against a section of the draft constitution that would reform local governments. The group petitioned constitutional drafters and reform panelists to remove the troublesome section of the draft constitution.

Yongyos Kaewkiew, who is chairman of the Village Chiefs, led the group of about 100 administrators in submitting their petition to Thienchay Kiranandana, chairman of the National Reform Council, and Borwornsak Uwanno, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC). The Office of the House Speaker director Weerayut Chareonkul received the letter on behalf of both chairman.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824505-village-and-tambon-chiefs-petition-against-draft-charter/

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Officials and soldiers to be compensated for service during martial law
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wonsuwan will seek Cabinet approval for government officials and state employees of the Defence Ministry, including soldiers, to be remunerated for their service during martial law, a source said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824526-officials-and-thai-soldiers-to-be-compensated-for-service-during-martial-law/

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BURNING ISSUE
Museum row shows how public needs to play its part
Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- DESPITE changes to society fuelled largely by the digital era, the Thai community still makes little effort to adjust its approach to public affairs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824527-thai-museum-row-shows-how-public-needs-to-play-its-part/

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Concern over 'inefficient' education spending
The Nation



Only 5 per cent of Bt805 billion spent in 2013 was earmarked for Boosting quality

BANGKOK: -- THAILAND needs to look further into national spending on education as studies have revealed that huge sums are being spent while efficiency is falling, Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Yuthavong said.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824528-thai-concern-over-inefficient-education-spending/

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UPDATE:

Death crash appeal thrown out
Kesinee Taengkhiao
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE Supreme Court yesterday threw out an appeal filed by a young woman whose underage driving caused nine deaths and serious injuries to many victims in 2010.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824403-supreme-court-rejects-appeal-by-female-teenager-in-fatal-van-fall-from-the-expressway/page-3#entry9396797

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Cycling licence considered as long-term measure: BMA
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Cyclists will be required to possess a licence as part of a long-term measure to prevent road accidents, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) spokesman Tridoa Apaiwong said yesterday.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824529-cycling-licence-considered-as-long-term-measure-bangkok-administration/

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Most Thais are happy with their jobs
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- MOST employees are happy with their jobs, according to JobsDB Thailand. However, 36 per cent of the respondents to its survey said they were "quite unhappy" and 6 per cent were "very unhappy" with their jobs.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824531-most-thais-are-happy-with-their-jobs/

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BMA to seek 300 million baht fund to maintain fire trucks and boats



BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is to seek an approval from the city council for a 300 million baht fund to repair the fire trucks and fire-fighting boats bought about a decade ago from Austrian supplier, Steyr-Daimler-Puch spezialfahrzefug AG.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824533-bangkok-admin-to-seek-300-million-baht-fund-to-maintain-fire-trucks-and-boats/

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Greece makes progress with creditors as cash crunch looms
LORNE COOK, Associated Press
PAN PYLAS, Associated Press

BRUSSELS (AP) — Greece may have only a couple of weeks left before it faces real problems meeting its financial commitments, the country's finance minister conceded Monday as talks with European creditors dragged on without agreement.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824534-greece-makes-progress-with-creditors-as-cash-crunch-looms/

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French president calls for end to US embargo on Cuba
ANNE-MARIE GARCIA, Associated Press

HAVANA (AP) — French President Francois Hollande called on Monday for ending of the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba, saying France "will be a faithful ally" as Cuba reforms its centrally planned economy and tries to re-enter the global economic system.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824535-french-president-calls-for-end-to-us-embargo-on-cuba/

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David Miliband won't run for Labour Party leader in UK

LONDON (AP) David Miliband has criticized his brother Ed Miliband's failed campaign to become Britain's prime minister, but says he won't run for Labour Party leader now that his younger brother has stepped down.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824538-david-miliband-criticises-brothers-uk-election-approach/

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Tornadoes kill at least 5 in Texas and Arkansas
By CLAUDIA LAUER and DAVID WARREN

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Emergency responders searched through splintered wreckage Monday after a line of tornadoes battered several small communities in Texas and Arkansas, killing at least five people, including a young couple who died trying to shield their daughter from the storm.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824539-tornadoes-kill-at-least-5-in-texas-and-arkansas/

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Saudi-led coalition pounds Yemen on eve of proposed truce
By AHMED AL-HAJ and PAUL SCHEMM

SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Warplanes from a Saudi-led coalition pounded weapons depots on the edge of Yemen's capital Monday, one day before a humanitarian cease-fire is due to start and a U.N. envoy arrives on his first visit to try to end the war.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824540-saudi-led-coalition-pounds-yemen-on-eve-of-proposed-truce/

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Kerry heads to Russia in first visit since Ukraine crisis
By MATTHEW LEE

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State John Kerry departed Monday for Russia to meet with President Vladimir Putin, on his first visit to the country since relations between Washington and Moscow plummeted to post-Cold War lows amid disagreements over Ukraine and Syria.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824541-kerry-heads-to-russia-in-first-visit-since-ukraine-crisis/

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Singer weeps, sorry for pedestrian's death

Bangkok:- A famous singer was in tear, as he attended a press conference on Monday to explain about the fatal road accident that he got involved, his grief and his intention to take responsibility.

The press conference took place after the singer, Saranyoo Winaipanich, has already apologized and asked for forgiveness from the victim’s family.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/824545-singer-weeps-sorry-for-pedestrians-death/